Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council extending Decision No 710/97/EC on a co-ordinated authorisation approach in the field of satellite personal communication services in the Community'
Date: 2000-03-30
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: approximation of laws, information network, provision of services, radio telecommunications, sale, satellite communications

C 140/42

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

18.5.2000

6.8. Financial Services

Completion of the Single Market in financial services
6.8.1.
is a high priority for business and citizens as users. So that the
full potential may be realized, investors should be able to act
without undue restriction throughout the Single Market.

6.8.2.
To this end, there is a need for uniform standards in
relation to both accounting and stock exchange listing. In

addition, the creation of conditions for effective,
cross-frontier retail payments should have high priority.

low-cost

6.9. Legal Framework
6.9.1.
The European Company Statute is currently blocked
at the Council and efforts made by various previous Presi-
dencies to hammer out a compromise have failed. The
Committee calls on the Commission, or indeed the Council,
to launch a new initiative to obtain agreement. Similar
considerations apply to European Statutes for co-operatives,
mutual societies and associations.

Brussels, 30 March 2000.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Decision of the European
Parliament and of the Council extending Decision No 710/97/EC on a co-ordinated authorisation
approach in the field of satellite personal communication services in the Community’

(2000/C 140/11)

On 20 March 2000 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article
262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society was responsible for
preparing the Committee’s work on the subject. The rapporteur was Mr Bernabei.

The Economic and Social Committee, acting under Rules 20 and 50 of the Rules of Procedure,
subsequently decided to appoint Mr Bernabei as rapporteur-general.

At its 371st plenary session (meeting of 30 March 2000), the Economic and Social Committee adopted
the following opinion unanimously.

1.

Introduction

1.1.
Satellite personal communication services (S-PCS) are
used with terrestrial fixed and mobile services, either as an
alternative or on an integrated basis with them. Satellite mobile
communications offer valuable opportunities to all to send
and receive messages, especially in areas where fixed infrastruc-
tures are underdeveloped.

1.3.
In spite of this potential, and the major efforts made
by industry in the sector, the market size has not yet grown as
expected, possibly in part because of regulatory brakes on
development and red tape.

1.4.
The use of radio spectrum is currently the focus of
Member State, EU and worldwide attention. The results of the
public consultation on the green paper on spectrum policy
were set out in a communication from the Commission (1). In
spite of the significant technical and technological progress

1.2.
The introduction of satellite personal communication
services therefore represents a decisive step forward in creating
networks providing global interconnectivity and mobility for
voice, data and image transmission.

(1) COM(1999) 538 of 10.11.1999.

18.5.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 140/43

achieved, which has greatly expanded the range of available
frequencies, growing demand for mobile communications
from various market sectors is turning radio spectrum into a
very scarce resource. The effect is that spectrum decisions are
taking on a political, social and economic, as well as technical,
character.

2.3.
In view of the above comments, the Commission
proposes to extend the validity of the regulatory framework
introduced by Decision No 710/97/EC, which is due to expire
in May 2000, for a further three and a half years until
31 December 2003.

The EU’s aim,

1.5.
in Decision No 710/97/EC, was to
establish a regulatory framework for the coordinated introduc-
tion in Europe of satellite systems offering S-PCS directly to
individual user terminals.

1.6.
The measures introduced by the decision concerned
harmonisation of both frequencies and licensing conditions,
together with the use and free circulation of user terminals. In
addition, it envisaged a one-stop-shopping procedure valid
throughout Europe.

2. The Commission proposal

2.1.
Although the Commission launched its initiative in
1997 and CEPT has adopted numerous decisions and rec-
ommendations in this area, not all the provisions of Decision
No 710/97/EC have been implemented. As a result, licensing
conditions and procedures vary considerably from one Mem-
ber State to another.
the planned one-stop-
In addition,
shopping procedure has not yet been introduced.

2.2.
In the light of technological developments in third
generation mobile terrestrial systems and the ensuing need for
spectrum clearance in certain bands, ever closer monitoring of
spectrum use will be required. Moreover, further satellite
services will soon be in operation which although using
different frequency bands, will have to be brought under the
same regulatory framework.

Brussels, 30 March 2000.

3. Conclusions

3.1.
In drafting the present opinion, the Committee has
taken due account of the comments and recommendations on
the subject made in previous opinions, and in particular the
opinion adopted unanimously on 11 December 1997 on
mobile and wireless communications (UMTS) (1) and the
opinion of 28 April 1999 on the Green Paper on radio
spectrum policy in the context of European Community
policies (2).

3.2.
The Committee agrees with the Commission’s reasons
for proposing to extend the validity of the rules governing
authorisation in the S-PCS sector, believing that the extension
responds to legislative and market requirements.

3.3.
The Committee would, however, draw the attention of
the Commission, Parliament and Council to the importance
not only of harmonising the telecommunications regulatory
framework with the 1999 Review, but also of ensuring that
the greatest band capacity possible is supplied to users at
accessible prices in a judicious combination of fixed and
mobile terrestrial, satellite and CATV (cable television) systems,
and guaranteeing services for access to the unbundled local
loop.

3.4.
In conclusion, the Commission’s proposal also clearly
accords with the need to prepare the European Union for full
entry into the information society and the new world of on-
line commerce, using all the communications infrastructures
and technologies necessary to create Internet markets.

(1) OJ C 333, 30.10.1998, p. 56.
(2) OJ C 169, 16.6.1999, p. 3.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI